It's all about ME, ME, ME!!

Hey guys

Well this month over at Scrap Matrix is particularly exciting for me.....cause it's all about being inspired by MY creations!!

I feel so flattered, a little nervous, and just a teeny bit famous! lol

So how did this become a challenge?

Well in April I was scheduled to teach a full weekend of classes at Scrap Matrix, but unfortunately due to all the uncertainty in the world right now, and the restrictions that are in place we have had to postpone.

At this stage, we haven't set a date, but when we do we will let you know.

Speaking of the uncertainty of the world, that's where my inspiration came from.

I was a little blocked, and couldn't seem to get creative. My heart felt heavy.

I was scrolling through Instagram and a post really spoke to me so I decided to use that as my jumping off point and that maybe art journaling might just be a good way to get it out and get me back into an arty headspace.....

Can you guess where the inspiration came from?

Who remembers this page?

Yep that was my inspiration.

I love all the colour.....

and here's the quote that unblocked me...

"And the people stayed home. 
And read books, and listened and rested and exercised and made art and played games and learned new ways of being, and were still. And listened more deeply. 
Some meditated. Some prayed, some danced, some met their shadows. 
And the people began to think differently. And the people healed. 
And, in the absence of people living in ignorant, dangerous, mindless and heartless ways, the earth began to heal. 
And when the danger passed and the people joined together again, they grieved their losses, and made new choices, and dreamed new images, and created new ways to live and heal the earth fully, as they had been healed."
-Kitty O'Meara

Ok so let's take a look at how it came together...

I began by grabbing some Art by Marlene Collage papers, and some of my leftover papers I created in my last gel printing session.

Apply white gesso to your page and then add washi tape to the edges for a neat border.

I painted a hill on one side using Dylusions paint in 'Cut Grass'.

I then used a stencil and damp baby wipe to wipe off some of the paint whilst still wet.

I used an Aall & Create stencil 

I repeated this process on the other side, this time using Dina Wakley paint in 'Lime' and 'Evergreen'.

I used a TCW stencil called '6x6 Brick Poetry' and just focused on the arches.

I created the sky using a mix of Dina Wakley paint in 'Sky' and 'Turquoise'.

I used a TCW stencil '6x6 Texture Love' to create some clouds.

You may be able to see a stamp in the sky.

Prior to painting I decided to use one of Tracy Scott's Mandala's from the stamp set by Paper Artsy ETS23 for the sun.

You probably have worked out by now that I love looking at my stamps differently, turning them into other things.

But when I stamped it I stuffed it!!

Now remember there are no mistakes, so instead I grabbed some yellow paper I created in a gel print session and stamped onto that.

Next I cut it out and stuck it over the top.

Problem solved!

Ta da!!

I used  some more of Tracy Scott's stamps from the sets ETS23 set and the ETS09 set 

I stamped them onto various sheets of green paper from my gel print session.

I then cut out all the circles and they became trees!!

Next I cut out a heap of triangles and rectangles from the papers I had gathered.

These became houses.

I added a few hearts from the Art by Marlene Die Cut #4 Book.

Now time to create the little scene.

I adhered all the bits with Soft Matte Gel.

You may notice in the picture that my Maisy helped me, she often does!

This Carabelle stamp reminded me of a fence.

I wasn't worried about perfection, as I wanted the scene to be a little whimsical and rustic.

Adding a few lines turned it into an immediate fence.

Finally, I added the journaling to the sky, and a simple yet powerful border.

Love those cute little flowers, which are from the Art by Marlene Die Cut books.

There you go, a page inspired by both the current world crisis and Me, Myself and I!!

I just love that my art can bring me joy, and that it gives me an avenue to process what is going on around me.

It is just an added bonus if it inspires you!!

I hope that many of you may find the time for yourself and create something for our challenge.

Just be inspired by ME!!

There's a whole album which contains all of my creations for Scrap Matrix.

You'll find it HERE.

I really hope a few of you have a go and join us.

Just add your creation to the 'Tammy Album' in our Scrap Matrix Shares Facebook Group.

I'd love you to tag me, so I can see them (and feel just a little bit more famous) lol

Wishing you all peace, joy, strength and colour.

We are all in this together
Love and kindness

Tam

xx

Art Journaling for Scrap Matrix

Happy New Year Creative Souls!

I'm here today to share 2 of my Summer inspired Art Journal creations for Scrap Matrix

To me, this just screams Summer.

All about colour and waves and sunsets.

So let's take a look at how this came together.

I had been hoarding this 'Art by Marlene Ocean Window 12x12 Stencil' .....the shape of those flowers look like waves, and that inner circle just reminds me of the sun.

I chose some of my fave PaperArtsy Paints that are full of summery vibes.

I used 'Slimed', 'Carribean Sea', 'Zesty Zing', 'Peach Nectar' and 'Cerise'.

I also used my larger Dina Wakley Journal.

I began by adding 'Zesty Zing' PaperArtsy paint with a sponge, focusing on the circular area

 (the sun).

I then added some of the 'Cerise' paint and blended it a little.

Keeping the stencil in place, I began adding other paints with a sponge.

I then decided to take the 'Zesty Zing' to the edge of the page.

It seemed a little harsh, so I grabbed the stencil, some 'Snowflake' PaperArtsy Paint and sponged over the top a bit randomly.

Adding that white back in pulled it altogether.

I then grabbed my fudeball pen and swirled it around the circle, adding a few scribbles.

I also went in with the stencil and paint and a sponge and added extra bits to the inner edge of the circle.

I then grabbed some of the Alpha foam stamps by Tim Holtz. 

I added the word sunshine, with black archival ink making sure it was to one side.

I didn't centre it, I rarely do.....it just means it doesn't then have to be perfect, whereas if it's centred I feel the pressure to get it exactly right.

I also like things a bit off centred, a bit unbalanced. A bit like me really.

I then added in my own writing to complete the quote.

I also went over the stamped letters with a white pen, and also added it into the circle too.

That's it!! 

A fun summery creation.

What colours say summer to you?

If you need some inspiration, check out our Summer Moodboard...

How can you not be inpsired by this?????

I have created another Art Journal Page (inspired by the fabulous Lisa Oxley)

I adore her colourful work.

I actually forgot to take photos as I went for this one. Whoops!

I'll leave a list after the last photo.

But basically I decided to select a colour from each of the colour pallettes above - yep mix it up completely!!

Just too cute....

 I used:

Tracy Scott stamps - ETS124 

Carabelle Studio Stencil

Carabelle Stamp - Roadside Weeds

AALL & CREATE stamp - #44

Dina Wakley paint - Lapis, Ocean, Lime, Peacock

Paper Artsy Paint - Snowflake, Electric Violet

Art by Marlene Die Cut #4

Art by Marlene Collage paper

Alpha Foam Stamps 

What does summer mean to you?

Add your creation to the Facebook Shares Group - just pop it in the 'January Challenge Folder', and let us know what Scrap Matrix Products you used.

I look forward to seeing your colourful creations.

I'll be back again soon.

Tam

xx

Just a touch of bling.....

Hello creative ones.

Today I'm sharing a couple of projects created for the "Bling it On" Challenge over at Scrap Matrix. Now these only have a smidge of bling, a spattering.

You see, although I'm a massive fan of sparkles and the magic around Christmas time, I find it hard to add bling to my pages.

As you know I love to add colour and paint - and this is usually matte.

So this challenge had me a little stumped.

Add to this the fact that I've been in a creative rut for a few weeks.

My mental health really needs me to find that damn mojo.

One of the ways I find the hiding spot of my lurking mojo is to crack OPEN something NEW!

I've been hoarding the Dina Wakley Collage Collection!!

I just love Dina's style, and I just wanna flip through the book - NOT cut it up!

But it was time.

My mojo had made sure of that.

So here's my first creation with it.....

Boom!! 

Mojo back!

Let's take a look at how it came together though, because it did take me a while to nab the sneaky bugger.

I began with that gorgeous collage collection and my Dina Wakley Art Journal.

I found myself still a bit overwhelmed at this point so I actually jumped on YouTube and watched a couple of videos. 

One was by Niamh Baly - and that was it - Bam!! I knew what I wanted to do!

Thanks Niamh for helping unearth my creativity again. xx

I think I've discussed before the way I manage you tube.

I only ever allow myself to watch 1-2 videos then it's create time.

Sometimes watching someone else creates leaves me feeling itchy to play and has me running straight for my craft room.

However it is easy to get bogged down and watch video after video.

DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN

It's a time warp.

1-2 then get OUT!!

Ok, so after flipping through the book, I decided to start with some of my fave colours.

I very randomly squeezed out some 'Peacock' Paint.

Then I took to it with an old store gift card.

I then repeated this process adding some 'Lime'.

I tore out one of the faces (as inspired by Niamh).

I love that these pages are the same size as my journal, so I can add them in as extra pages very easily. Perfect fit.

I cut around the side of the face, and then trimmed the right side off a little too.

I then added it to the right hand side using some Dina Wakley washi tape.

Make sure you add some to the inside of the flap too.

Instant extra page in my journal. 

I love these interactive elements.

Ok so now that it's there, I need to bring in that pink that's on the reverse side.

I used 'Fuschia' paint to do this.

Again, random.

From the scraps cut off the face, I cut out some circles and half circles.

I then went in with some white gesso and a baby wipe and that gorgeous leaf stencil called 'Deco Leaves' by The Crafters Workshop. Definitely my current fave.

I also added in a touch of 'Ruby' paint to go with the inner circle on the reverse of the flap, and also a touch of  'Evergreen', just to help blend the colours a little.

I then did the same with black gesso, and added some random flicks and lines.

This is when I felt it all came together.

I then stuck down my circles using matte gel medium.

I decided to add my title using Dina Wakley collage Words - 3x3" set.

I tore it up and placed the words so they were peeking out from under the flap.

Stick this down with matte gel medium.

NOW's the time to add in some bling.

I added swipes of gold to my layout. I used the PaperArtsy 'Gold' Paint.

Tracy Scott introduced me and at first I was all 'oh no I like it without', but now I'm converted. 

Pffffft!

It just adds some depth, some interest.

It kinda lifts the whole project.....

Sometimes you don't need a stack of bling....just a touch of sparkle will do!

I added some scribbles to the page and around my circles using my fudeball pen.

Finally I added some journaling in that circular shape underneath the face.

There you have it.

By the time I was half way through this creation, I knew my creative block was gone! 

Thank goodness...I can breathe again.

Let's take a look at the interactive flap now that the page is finished.

If you haven't seen the Dina Wakley Collage Collective.....it's so worth a look.

Page after page of gorgeous loose scribbly art.

There's tags, die cuts, washi tape looking strips, faces, just so much, and the great thing is they a afterre featured in both thick cardstock and a finer paper - perfect for adhering with gel medium.

I was so happy with the result, I decided to create something else.

I follow Susanne Rose and she often creates circular patterns, adding stamps, die cuts etc. They always look amazing, and when I saw the cute little bird page in the Dina Wakley Collage Collection, I thought I'd give it a try......

(thanks for the inspiration Suzanne xx)

I used Dina Wakley Scribble Sticks for this one, and I added a couple of Tracy Scott stamps from the  NEW ETS35 set

I added a few swipes of 'Gold' PaperArtsy paint and I also rubbed some through the 'The Crafters Worshop Deco Leaves Stencil'. 

After I finished and stepped back, I noticed the outer circle kinda reminded me of a bird nest, and those large circles were a bit like eggs!

That's part of the joy of art journalling - things kinda just happen. 

Once you get in the moment, the art kinda just falls onto the page.

That's it from me!!

I'll see you all again in 2020.

Thanks so much for following along with me this year, and a big hug to all of you who comment either on Instagram, Facebook, the blog or privately.

I love knowing that I have inspired you in some way.

It makes all the late nights (with wine)! typing these up worth it.

So much love

xxx